Intermittent feeler mechanism for looms



A. E. RHOADES INTERMITTENT FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS July 1, 19zs.

Filed July 19. 1924 s Sheets-Sheet 1 W. ATTORNEY BY/ I 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 //VV/VTOR AT'TbRA/EY A. E. RHOADES INTERMITTENT FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Flled July 19 1924 July 7, 1925.

July 7, 1925.

1,545,457 A. E. RHOADES INTERMITTENT FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed July 19. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Ely. 5

muWmmlmumim Patented July 7, 1925.

Ammo nvnnoanne or nominate, iviAssaonosnmrs, ASSIGNOR some? con reunion, or HOPEDAEDE, MASSACHUSETTS A CORPORATION or 'MAINE,

mtrnmvrrrrnivr FEELER MECHANISM FOR Looms;

Tooll whom it may concern:

Be it knownjthat I, ALoNzo E. RrroA Es, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hopedale, inthe county ofW'orcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Intermittent lFe'eler Mechanisms for Looms, of which the following de-- scription, in connection with the accompanying drawings is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This inventionrelat'es-to feeler mecha: nisms forlooms and more particularly to feeler mechanisms of the intermittent type wherein the feeler is'held in a position'of inactivef period. a

inactivity for periods of time andis released at intervals to itsperiods of activity.

One ofthe Objects of the presentinvention" is to provide a feeler mechanism of the intermittentty' e which shall be simple in con-v (l GlllOlGHlL in operation, and one i of the features of the invention consists in means for suspendingthe operation of the struction an feeler trip mechanism during an active period of the feeler.

Another important feature of the present invention consists in means for removing the feeler to a position beyond the reach of the filling on detect ng beats when itls 1n lts The'various novel features of the invention andnew combination .of parts will best be made clear from the following description'and the accompanying, drawings of one 1 goodpractical form thereof.

In. the drawings;

Fig. l is aperspective view of portions of the loom having the present invention ap plied thereto; a

ig. 21s an enlargeddetail showing more particularly the feeler mechanism and its controlling means;- e s A n Fig. 3 1s a side elevation of portlonsof the feeler controlling mechanism;

:Fig. i isfia section on the line 44 of ated with means foreffecting replenishment Application filed J uly 121, 19 241 sem No. 728,924.

, of filling when the feeler'ldetects exhaustion of the filling in the shuttle; but:

the invention, of course, is not restricted in" this respect, as the feeler mechanism maybe employed in effectinglothei'"changes inilooin operation. It has not been deemed necessary to illustrate herein the replenishingmechaql nism because the details thereof'form part of the present invention. V I a i In the illustrated form of the invention the feeler is shown as of the inclinedtype',

the feeler 'mecliasimilar in this respect to nlsm shown and described in the patent to Edward S. Stimpson, No. '1,309,226,dated July-8, 1919, and while the advantages of the present invention are well manifested in this type of feel er, the invention is not restricted thereto but may I other types withfequaladvantage.

The loom frame 1 is ofusual construction andjhas mounted at the front'thereofthe transverse or rock shaft 2 supported in bearings "3, one ateachside of the 10am, and

be employed rising from the. rock} shaft 2 is an arm l to i which is pivoted at 5the rearwardly extend-t ing arm 6 to the rear end lpf rtion of whiohi is plvotally supported the nger 7 adapted at times to bemoved frontwardlyrby the operatingniember or cam follower 81 u Mounted on the support v-9 secured to the 100m frameis a bell crank-lever, the horizontal armlO of which underlies the projection 11 on the finger The bell crank lever is pivotally mounted M12 and has its arm 13 connectedto a transmitter .14 which is under control of the feeler, the construc}; tion being such, that should the feeler detectsubstantial exhaustion of the filling on a de testing beat, it will lift the finger 7-into position to bejoperated by the operating member 8, asusual.

The feeler stand 15 1 may beladnistably cured to a bracket 16 mounted adj ustably on an arm17 extending from the shipper stand;

and in the presentjinstance the f-eelerstand is held in its adjusted position by a bolt 18 which passesthrough slot19 in the feeler stand.

At the rear of the feeler stand snid 20 mounted for transverse movement in r the rear bearing 21 and connected at 2 2ft of the transmitter 1A. The slide 20wfisjbest shown in Figsr5 and; and has aslot 23 through whiclrthe'feeler 24; extends, The

frontwardly extending stem portion 25 of the feeler passes through a swivel block 26 mounted on the feeler stand, and interposed between the swivel block and a bridge orsupport 27 carried by the feeler is the usual:

feeler spring 28 normally acting to move the feeler into its feeling position.

The construction and operation of the train of mechanismthus far described may be the same as that shown and'described in the Stimpson patent, hereinbefore mentioned, although theinventiion "is not re strieted thereto. 7 H

'The'l'ay'29 is Oftl'le usual construction and the feeler shuttle box 30f'isprovided with the usual opening 31' which registers with an opening 32 in the shuttle 33fwhen the latter i Properly positioned inthe feeler box.- v I In accordance with the present invention,

the feele'r is to be held'in a ffrontward position during 'itsperiod of inactivity and is to be released at intervals to its period of activity and, asshown, the feeler is held in its frontward position by a holding device or detent during its periods of inactivity and is released by a trip mechanism at in tervalsto its periods of activity.j The trip mechanism may be variously. contrived, as may alsobe the hold ng device or detent,

but a goodpracticalformofthe invention in these respects comprises a ratchetjwheel 34 which is given a step-bystepmovement from a going part of the 100m.

Inthe present instance the feeler stand has secured thereto a bracket 35 by means of a bolt 36 and'extending from the bracket 35 is anarm 37 carrying a pinor shaft 38 on which the ratchet wheel 34 is mounted.

The ratchet wheelis supported to'rotate in a plane substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of: the feelerl and is stepped, along'by a pawlmechanismwvhich will be" hereinafter described.

Mounted on the pin or support 39 car ried by the bracket 35 is the detent or holding meinber40 which not only has" rotative or rocking movement on the pin' 39 but also:

a swinging movement towards and from the front of the loom, the pivotal support or pin 39 being suiiici'ently loose in the detent or holding member 40 to permit both the pivotal and frontward rocking movement.- f

Mountedupon the' feeler stem at the front thereof is a collar 41, Figs. 2 and 3, and the; active end portion 42 of the" detent or holdmg device 40 is adapted to engage the-rear face 43 of the collar to maintain the feeler' in its frontward inoperative position. The collar may be conveniently secured adjustably to the feeler stem by means of a bolt 44.,

The ratchet wheel 34 carriesa trip lug. 45, Figs.'2 and 4, which is adapted to engage a.pro ect1on 46 extending from the ti T position, Fig. 5 with the active end 42 of the detent in arearward position. The face of the )lunger 49. is of sufficient extent to provide a[ bearing against the detent in its holding and 'eleasing positions.

ltlounted upon the face of the has a cam riser 51 adjacent 'to'but somewhat removed from the trip lug45, as indicated in Figs; .2'and 4. The'cam 50 extends about the face of the ratchet or trip wheel 34 and its end portions are adjacent to the trip lug 45. i l

Assumingthat the ratchet 34 is being stepped along by a train of mechanism, the

t1;'i "'lug.45*will eventually rise beneath the.

lug 46 'the 'detent or holding device and move upwardly, as indicated in Fig. 4, thereby freeing. the feeler that it may move to feeling position during its periods of activity.) Then the feeler is in its feeling position, thenctive end portion" 42 of the detent 40 is engaged with the lower surface of the collar 41 secured to the feeler and is consequently held in its. tripping or'feeling position until when'the feeler is moved, frontwardly "by a working supply of filling,

the collar 41 will .move sufficiently frontwardito permit theactive .end 42 of th'e'de.- tent to engage rearwardly of the collar 41,

as indie'ated in Figs. 2 and 5, and retain thefeelerin afrontward' position. VV hen' the trip lug 45 has passed the projection 46, Fig. 4, and the feeler has been moved frontwardly as described, the spring 47" will. throw the detent into its holding position behind the collar 41, the detentat such times being in the inclined position indicated by Fig. 5. As the ratchet wheel 34 is stepped along, the projection 46 will ride over the inclined portion'51 of the cam 50, thereby swinging the active end ofthe 'detent 4O frontwardlyfrom the position inclicated in Fig. 5 to that of Fig. 6, and'perforcewill move the feeler 24 to a. frontward position'beyond the're'ach of the filling on subsequent.detecting banana will maintain the feeler in this position during the rotative movement of the ratchet 34' by reason of "the cam 50 extending about the face of the ratchet.

Theratchet wheel 34 'is actuated} froma trainofmechanism which, in the present I I p ratchet wheel 34 1s a cam 50, F1gs'. 2 and 4, which instance, comprises the rocker arm 52 which may be conveniently mounted for rocking movement upon the stud 58. At its lowerend the rocker 52 has a portion 54 which embraces a cam 55 on a shaft 56 actuated through a train of mechanism from a going part of the loom, as, for instance, the under a pawl 58 normally held in its active position by a spring 59, and the ratchet wheel 34 has secured to the side thereof a lug 60 cariying a few teeth, two being shown in the present instance of the invention. Pivotally mounteclat 61 on thepawl 58, which may be denominated the lazy pawl, is the active pawl 62 which normally engages the ratchet teeth of the wheel 34. The idle end portion 68 of the active pawl is connected by a link 64 to the inactive end portion of the detent at 65, the construction being such that when the detent 40 is moved by the trip to release the feeler, the active pawl 62 will be thrown out of action, and since the toothed lug 60 is then in a position to be engaged by the lazy pawl 58, the ratchet will be stepped along sufficiently far to permit the trip lug 45 to pass out of engagement with the projection 46 of the detentand will then become inactive, that is, the ratchet wheel 34 will be no longer actuated by the lazy pawl during its reciprocating movement, so that the ratchet 34 will dwell or become inoperative and remain at rest. At such time the pro-jeotion 46 on the detent is above or opposite of the recess 66 between the cam 50- and the trip lug 45 and will be ready to trip into said recess when the feeler is moved sufliciently frontward to permit the spring 47 to move thedetent into its holding position, as indicated in Fig; 2. Should the feeler detect a condition approaching exhaustion of the filling in the shuttle on a detecting beat followingthe release of the feeler as described, it will not be moved frontwardly sufficiently far to enable the active end portion 42 of the detent to move behind the collar 41 on the feeler, but the active end 42 of the detent will then rest upon the under surface of the collar 41 and the tripwheel or ratchet 34 will remain at rest. The feeler will then remain in active operation until the filling becomes substantially exhausted, whereupon it will cause replenishment of the filling in a manner well understood. After such replenishment on a. detecting beat the feeler will be moved frontwardly by a working supply of filling and the active end'portion 42 of the detent will then rise into holding engagement be hind the collar 41 on the feeler. This move ment of the detent 40 into active position releases the active pawl 62 to'the performance of its: function, and the ratchet'wheel will start into operation from its initial stopping position, so that after replenishment of the filling the feeler-will commenceits period of inactivity, which willbe of the same length as any other period of inactivity of the feeler. In other words, should the trip'mechanism remain in action when the feeler is in operation during the active period with a near approach to substantial exhaustion of the filling, the first period of inactivity of the feeler would be relatively short as compared with other periods of activity, but by suspending or interrupting the operation of the trip 11160113., nism during an active period of" the feeler when it detects a near approach to substantial exhaustion, the several periods of inactivity of the feeler are rendered equal, and unnecessary operation or release of the feeler following replenishment is avoided.

lVhat is claimed is:

1. In an intermittent feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler to detect the condition of the filling in the shuttle, a device for holding the feeler'i'n a frontward position during its periods of in activity, a trip mechanism for freeing the feeler at intervals, and means for stopping the operation of the trip mechanism during an active period of the feeler that the.

periods of inactivity of the feeler may be equalized. I v

'2. In an intermittent feeler mechanism forlooms, the combination of a feeler having periods of activity and inactivity during weaving with the same supply of filling in the shuttle, a trip mechanism for freeing the fecler at intervals that it may move to feeling position, and means for stopping the operation of the trip mechanism when the feeler detects a near approach to filling exhaustion during an active period of the feeler to equalize the periods of inactivity of the :feeler; v J

3. In an intermittent feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler having periods'of activity and inactivity during weaving with the same supply offilling in the shuttle, a trip mechanism for freeing the feeler at intervals that it may move to feeling position, means for operating the trip mechanism, and means for interrupting the effective operation of the trip mechanism operating means when the feeler detects a. near approach to filling exhaustion during an active period ofthe feeler that the inactive periodsof the feeler may be equalized. i i 1 4. In an intermittent feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler having periods of activity and inactivity during weaving with the same supply of filling in the shuttle, a device for holding the feeler in an inoperative position when it has been moved frontwardly'by a working'supply of filling on a detecting beat, mechanism for freeing the feeler at intervals to its periods of activity, and means for, stopping the operation of said freeing mechanism when the feeler detects a near approach to substantial exhaustion of thefilling.

5. In an intermittent feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler having periods of activity and inactivity, a device for rendering the feeler inoperative during its periods of inactivity, means actuated from a going part of the loom for free the feeler at intervals, and mechanism for stopping the operation of said means during an active period of the feeler when the filling has approached a condition nearing substantialexhaustion until the feeler is again moved frontwardly by a working sup ply of filling that the periods of inactivity of the feeler may beeqnalized.

6. In an intermittent feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler, a device for holding the feeler in a frontward position during its periods of inactivity, operating mechanism for freeing the feeler at intervals that it may have periods of activity and inactivity, and means for stopping the operation of said mechanism during an active period of the feelerthat. the inactive periods of the feelermay be equalized.

7 In an intermittent feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler, a device for moving and holding the feeler'in a frontward position during its periods of inactivity, operating mechanism for freeing the feeler at intervals that it may have periods of activity and inactivity, and means for stopping the operation of said mechanism during an active period of the feeler that the inactive periods of the feeler may be equal.

8. In an intermittent feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler, means for holding the feeler in a frontward inoperative position during its periods of iiiactivity, a trip for freeing the feeler from said means at intervals that it may move to feeling position, a step-by-step mechanism for operating said trip, and means for stopping the efiective operation of said stepby-step mechanism during an active period of the feeler that the inactive periods may be equalized. Y

9. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the

combination of a feeler,a device for holding the feeler in a frontward position beyond the reach'of thefilling on detecting beats, a trip for freeing the feeler from said device, means for operating the trip to free the. feeler, and mechanism for stopping the operation of the 'trip operating means during an active period of the feeler.

10. Ina feeler mechanism for looms, the combinationof a feeler, a device for holding the feeler in-a frontward position .be-

yond the reach of the filling'on detecting beats, a trip for freeing the feeler from said device, ratchet and pawl mechanism for op-- erating the trip thatthe feeler may have periods of activity and inactivity, and means forrendcring the ratchet'and pawl mechanism ineffectual during an active period of the feeler. I a

11. In a feeler mechanism for looms,-the combination of a feeler having periods of activity and'inactivity, a detent for holding the feeler during its periods of inactivity, a tripdevice for freeing the feeler' from the detent at intervals, a ratchetand pawl mechanism for operating the trip" device, and a cam acting through the detent for moving the feeler to a position beyond the reach of the filling where it is held during its periods of inactivity. 1

'12. In a feeler mechanism for looms, thev combination of a feeler having periods of' activity and inactivity, a detent for holding the-feeler during its periods of inactivity, a trip device for freeing the feeler from the detent at intervals, a trip wheel movable in a plane extendingtransversely to the feeler movement, means for actuating the trip wheel, and a cam acting during movement of the tripwheel for withdrawing the feeler beyond the reach of the fillin 13. In an intermittent feeler mechanism for looms, the'combination of a feeler, a devicerfor holding the feeler in inoperative position during its periods of inactivity, a tripfor freeingthefeeler from said device at intervals, a trip wheel for actuating the trip, and a part carried by the trip Wheel for moving the feeler to and holding it ina position beyond the reach of the filling during its periods of inactivity. V

M. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler, a detent mounted for pivotal movement transversely of the feeler and for rocking movement towards andfrom the front of theloom, means normally acting to hold the detent with its. active end towards the rear of the loom, a detent trip mechanism, means movableby the trip mechanism for swinging the active end of the detent frontwardly, andmeans controlled by the detent for stopping movement of the trip mechanism during an active period of the feeler.

15. In afeeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler, a device for holding the feelerlin a frontward position during its periods of inactivity, a trip wheel, a cam carried by the trip Wheel for engagementby said device for moving the feeler frontwardly, and means controlled by said. device for suspending the movement of the trip wheel during an active period of the feeler.

16. In a. feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler, a device for holding the feeler in a frontward position during its periods of inactivity, a trip wheel, a cam having an interrupted portion and carried by the trip wheel for engagement by said device for moving the feeler frontwar'dly, and means controlled by said device for suspending the movement of the trip Wheel during an active period of the feeler.

17. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler, a detent for engagement by the feeler, a trip wheel having a cam for holding the detent in a frontward position when engaged by the feeler, means for actuating the trip wheel to periodically release the feeler, and means controlled from the detent for stopping move ment of the trip wheel during the active period of the feeler that the-inactive periods may be equalized.

18. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler having periods of activity and inactivity during weaving with the same supply of filling in the shuttle, a detent for holding the feeler in a frontward position during its periods of inactivity and mounted to turn about a vertical and a horizontal axis, means for turning the detent about its horizontal axis to free the feeler, and other means for turning the detent about its vertical axis to cause the feeler engaging portion of the detent to be moved rearwardly as it frees the feeler and when reengaged by the feeler to move the :Eeeler to a frontward position beyond the reach of the filling.

19. In a feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler, a detent extending transversely of the path of movement of the feeler and mounted to swing about a horizontal axis to engage and release the feeler and thereafter about a vertical axis to withdraw the feeler to a frontward position, means for swinging the detent about its horizontal axis to release the feeler at intervals, and other means for swinging the detent about its vertical axis to cause the feelerengaging portion of the detent to be'moved rearwardly as it frees the feeler and when engaged with the feeler to withdraw the l'eeler to .a frontward position.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ALONZO E. RHOADES. 

